School communities that offer students a rich focus on diversity, equity and inclusion do more than expose children to diverse perspectives and backgrounds. They equip students with skills that are critically important to their futures, says Natalie Holz, Director of Equity and Inclusion at Sacred Heart Schools Chicago, a preschool-grade 8 independent Catholic school for students of all faiths in Chicago.
“Children need skills in critical thinking and communicating across diverse populations in their future jobs. And, collaboration and communication across all backgrounds helps students be more successful in high school and in college,” Holz explains.
While an emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion is gaining steam in schools across Chicagoland, Sacred Heart Schools Chicago has embraced these concepts since its inception — through the unique Sacred Heart Goals and Criteria, which provide the foundational values for the Sacred Heart education.
“The Goals and Criteria draw on the themes of Catholic school teaching, and they are all justice-focused, and caring for creation and for the poor,” explains Holz. “These are the principles that run deep in the school’s DNA.”
Specifically, the Five Goals are: a personal and active faith in God, a deep respect for intellectual values, a social awareness that impels to action, the building of community as a Christian value and personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom.
While diversity, equity, inclusion and justice are concepts that are specific to “social awareness that impels to action” of Goal Three, the concepts actually weave through all five Goals.
“We are always focusing on all of the Goals all of the time, and this school year we are making the wider educational community, including parents and families, more aware of Goal Three. This is a chance to showcase and remind families about the Goals that make the Sacred Heart education so unique.”
Diversity, equity and inclusion: focus on learning
As the Director of Equity and Inclusion, Holz focuses on curriculum and instruction to ensure they are inclusive and reflective of the many identities of the students. “I’m working with teachers to look at the books they have and review lesson plans for accessibility,” she explains.
“Our focus isn’t solely about identities, racial, religious or socio-economic differences, but how each child learns. We review teaching styles and teaching methods. Are the learning needs of all students being met?” Holz says, adding that she meets with teams regularly to make sure all instruction, events and outreach efforts are equitable.
Holz also provides support for the Sacred Heart Equity and Inclusion Council and various affinity groups in order to make sure students with differing identities have a safe space to relate and connect and have positive experiences.
“We know that a sense of belonging is tied to academic achievement. To know you belong makes you invested in doing the work and staying engaged in class,” Holz says, underscoring research that suggests that when students believe their teacher doesn’t know them and can’t pronounce their name correctly, academic achievement suffers.
“This is about helping all children and it benefits all children,” she adds. “Talking about different identities helps students understand the world and recognize that they are part of a larger community. It helps them know they belong.”
A justice-oriented mission builds leadership skills
Each year, Sacred Heart students participate in Justice Day events, where they learn about social justice through the lens of the arts. Fourth-grade students collaborate with peers in Muslim and Jewish day schools for a Poetry Pals program and middle school students participate in Justice Tuesdays to engage in partnerships within the community to volunteer.
Just as important, they recognize and embrace different ways to respond to the world around them.
“We are a Catholic school for children of all faiths, and for many people, identifying as Catholic means very different things. Our goal is for everyone to find a deep connection to how their faith calls them to live in the world,” Holz says. “We are working for justice and caring for issues of equality — these are things that are historically part of a faith-based organization or school.”
In an increasingly divided world, a focus on diversity, equity, inclusion and justice — together with a robust academic curriculum — builds critical and flexible thinking, listening and communication skills and self-awareness.
“We don’t always associate these skills with equity and justice, but you need them to understand the impact of your actions on others — and together, these are leadership skills,” Holz says. “That’s the biggest reason to send your children to Sacred Heart. We develop strong leadership skills in students so they can dream big and be strong leaders with strong values.”
Learn more about Sacred Heart Schools Chicago. Visit shschicago.org.
